Smith out of next Test, expected to be fit in two weeks

The mainstay of Australian batting order Steve Smith has been ruled out of the third Ashes Test at Headingley. He is yet to recover from the concussion sustained during the previous Test match at Lord’s.

What happened

Steve Smith was hit on neck by a Jofra Archer bounder on day four of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s. After passing the initial concussion test he came back to complete his innings in the hour after he was struck on day four. But later he woke up with a headache and dizziness on the final day and mandatory subsequent testing revealed that he was not fit enough for the remaining match. He was replaced by Marnus Labuschagne under International Cricket Council’s new concussion replacement rule. Labuschagne impressed in his maiden Ashes innings even after getting an initial blow to the helmet from Archer early in his innings. He ended as the highest scorer for the Aussies with his match-saving 59.

Cricket Australia on Tuesday announced on their website about Smith’s unavailability in the next encounter starting on August 22. The official statement reads, “Steve Smith has been ruled out of the third Ashes Test in Leeds having failed to recover in time from the concussion he sustained at Lord’s. Coach Justin Langer confirmed the news two days out from the third Test on a cold Tuesday morning at Headingley, with Smith appearing understandably downbeat around his teammates.”

The story ahead

This clearly means an advantage to the hosts. Smith was looking as destructive as ever after completion of his one-year suspension from international cricket. He scored two centuries and a classy 92 in his three innings in the first two Tests of the ongoing Ashes. Absence of Smith in the squad can make things worse for Australia as England were looking motivated enough on the final day of Lord’s Test. This also means another opportunity for Labuschagne who will be taken into the playing eleven in place of Smith after his heroics in the last Test.

Cricket Australia also shared, “Smith now has two weeks to be ready for the fourth Test in Manchester, which starts on September 4, with a three-day tour match in Derby from August 29-31.”

Also Read: England named 12-member squad for the third Ashes Test

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The mainstay of Australian batting order Steve Smith has been ruled out of the third Ashes Test at Headingley. He is yet to recover from the concussion sustained during the previous Test match at Lord’s.

What happened

Steve Smith was hit on neck by a Jofra Archer bounder on day four of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s. After passing the initial concussion test he came back to complete his innings in the hour after he was struck on day four. But later he woke up with a headache and dizziness on the final day and mandatory subsequent testing revealed that he was not fit enough for the remaining match. He was replaced by Marnus Labuschagne under International Cricket Council’s new concussion replacement rule. Labuschagne impressed in his maiden Ashes innings even after getting an initial blow to the helmet from Archer early in his innings. He ended as the highest scorer for the Aussies with his match-saving 59. Cricket Australia on Tuesday announced on their website about Smith’s unavailability in the next encounter starting on August 22. The official statement reads, “Steve Smith has been ruled out of the third Ashes Test in Leeds having failed to recover in time from the concussion he sustained at Lord's. Coach Justin Langer confirmed the news two days out from the third Test on a cold Tuesday morning at Headingley, with Smith appearing understandably downbeat around his teammates.”

The story ahead

This clearly means an advantage to the hosts. Smith was looking as destructive as ever after completion of his one-year suspension from international cricket. He scored two centuries and a classy 92 in his three innings in the first two Tests of the ongoing Ashes. Absence of Smith in the squad can make things worse for Australia as England were looking motivated enough on the final day of Lord’s Test. This also means another opportunity for Labuschagne who will be taken into the playing eleven in place of Smith after his heroics in the last Test. Cricket Australia also shared, “Smith now has two weeks to be ready for the fourth Test in Manchester, which starts on September 4, with a three-day tour match in Derby from August 29-31.”

Also Read: England named 12-member squad for the third Ashes Test

Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on FacebookTwitterand Instagram